Trent Valley GeoArchaeology

Lidar provides access to high resolution, high accuracy terrain information and as a secondary output a laser “image” of the land surface derived from measurements of the intensity of reflection of each backscattered laser pulse. Archaeological applications of Lidar have focused largely on its ability to provide a high resolution record of terrain variation, allowing the detection and mapping of subtle archaeological features mapping of fluvial geomorphology  and its unique ability to penetrate vegetation cover to map underlying archaeological earthworks.  Backscattered laser intensity measurements have largely escaped attention and little or no work has been undertaken to investigate intensity, which until now has been largely ignored both by archaeologists and by the lidar industry as a whole.

This project aims to benefit stakeholders within the aggregates industry, from quarries companies submitting planning applications through to individuals and bodies responsible for commissioning archaeological investigations within the framework of PPG 16, and curatorial archaeologists also working within the PPG16 framework.  Project work will benefit these groups by providing an authoritative assessment of the use of lidar backscattered laser intensity as a tool for detecting archaeological features and remotely predicting organic preservation of waterlogged deposits in aggregate bearing environments. Such rapid assessment may save aggregate companies the expense of prospection within areas that have high potential for organic preservation, or paying for expensive mitigation strategies in areas where the organic potential of organic deposits is low. It may also provide information on the condition of valley floor deposits prior to dewatering.

Project design

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Stage 1 Report: Final Text

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Stage 2 Report: Final Text

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